Self-threading loom shuttle



Patented July 7, 1942 SELF-THREADING LOOM SHUTTLE Joseph E. Blanchard, Millbury, and Fred J.

Lague, Milford, Mass, assignors to Watson-Williams Manufacturing Company, Millbury, Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,172 3 QlaimS- (01. 139- 223) This invention relates to self-threading shutties as used in automatic weft replenishing looms and relates more particularly to improvements in self-threading shuttles of the general type shown in the prior patent to Spencer, No. 2,059,756, issued in 1936 to applicants assignee.

In said patented construction, the side delivery guide passage was formed in a laterally and downwardly offset projection of the main threading block. This block was commonly of cast iron and the guide passage was subject to severe wear from thread friction.

It is one object of our present invention to form the outer part of the side delivery thread passage in a separate guide plate which may be of a different and mor durable metal. We also provide this separate guide plate with an enlarged grooved outer surface effective to reduce wear on theside of the shuttle body adjacent the outlet of the side delivery thread passage.

In the preferred form, we make this separate Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a partial plan View of a shuttle embodying our improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional plan view, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of our improved guide and wear plate combined with a clamping screw;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6. is a plan View of a modified plate and separate clamping screw.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, we have shown our invention embodied in a shuttle S having a' recess ID in one end portion adapted to receive and closely fit a threading block The block II has a thread passage l2 extending longitudinally therethrough and also has a thread-guiding and anti-looping device l4 overlying said thread passage.

The threading block I I also has the usual forwardly extending horn [5 with a portion lfi offset laterally and downward. The horn portion l5 is spaced from a rear surface lfi'of' the shuttle body to provid an entrance passage I"! for the thread. The shuttle is also provided with an enlarged side delivery thread assagezo below the sl0t'|'|, through which passage the thread is drawn out from the bobbin B through the threading block H.

Our improved guide and wear plate 39 is mounted in a recess 3% in the side of the shuttle and has a thread guide passage 3| (Fig. 5) formed at one end thereof and a lower threading slot 32 communicating therewith. A shallow groove 33 is preferably formed in the outer face of the plate 39 and communicates at one end with the guide passage 3|.

The plate 39 is preferably curved to correspond approximately to the contour of the shuttle side wall in which it is inserted, but with the curvature accentuated toward the forward or righthand end as viewed in the drawing. All edges and corners of the plate adjacent the thread passage are carefully rounded, and all thread-engaging suriaces will be highly polished.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a clamping screw 40 is formed integral with or permanently secured to the back of the plate 3|] at one end thereof. The screw is threaded at the opposite end to receive a clamping nut 4| and lock washer 42 (Fig. 3). The plate 30 and screw 40 may be of any suitable metal but are preferably formed of steel, and the plate 30 may desirably be chilled or hardened to provide a long-wearing surface.

The screw 40 also extends through an opening 44 in the threading block II and is thus effective to firmly hold the threading block in the shuttle, as well as to hold the plate 30 in its recess 3th. The screw 46 takes the place of the usual clamping screw otherwise required to hold the threading block in the shuttle.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6, the guide and wear plate 50 is identical with the plate 30 previously described, except that it is provided with a boss 5| on its back face which is received in a corresponding recess 52 in the shuttle body 5|. The clamping screw 53 is inserted through the shuttle body and the threading block from the opposite or rearward side as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3 and is threaded into the boss 5|, thus firmly securing the parts together as previously described and avoiding the necessity for using a split screw-driver for the nut 4|, which special tool may not at all times be conveniently available.

Having thus described our invention, it will be seen that we have simplified the construction and finishing of the threading block; and that we have provided a more durable guide and wear plate, together with convenient and simple means for assembling the described parts.

Our improvement, while relatively simple, nevertheless substantially prolongs the useful life of the threading block, as the part most subject to wear is made separate therefrom and is not only more durable but also easily replaceable.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but What we claim is:

1. In a self-threading shuttle having a threading block and having a side delivery thread passage therefrom, that improvement which comprises a separate metal plate secured in a recess in the side of the shuttle adjacent the outlet of said delivery passage and having a thread guide passage formed therein and having a threading slot opening upwardly into said thread guide passage, and a clamping screw coacting with said plate and with said threading block and eifective to secure both of said parts in said shuttle.

2. In a self-threading shuttle having a threading block and having a side delivery thread passage therefrom, that improvement which comprises a separate metal plate secured in a recess in the side of the shuttle adjacent the outlet of said delivery passage and having a thread guide passage formed therein and having a threading slot opening upwardly into said thread guide passage, said plate having a screw fixed to the back thereof and extending through said shuttle and threading block, and a nut threaded thereon and securing said parts in assembled relation.

3. In a self-threading shuttle having a threading block and having a side delivery thread passage therefrom, that improvement which comprises a separate metal plate secured in a recess in the side of the shuttle adjacent the outlet of said delivery passage and having a thread guide passage formed therein and having a threading slot opening upwardly into said thread guide passage, said plate having a boss on the back thereof, and a clamping screw extending through said shuttle and said threading block and threaded into said boss and effective to secure all of said parts in assembled relation.

JOSEPH E. BLANCHARD. FRED J. LAGUE. 

